The Hindu : National : Survey brings to light woes plaguing leprosy patients

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Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
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Survey brings to light woes plaguing leprosy patients

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

High prevalence of illiteracy, unemployment, discrimination

NEW DELHI: Continuing to face discrimination and plagued by illiteracy and unemployment, leprosy patients across the country still bear the brunt of this now curable disease, according to a new report on "Socio-economic Statistical Survey of Leprosy Colonies" released here.

The survey, conducted by the International Association for Integration, Dignity and Advancement, that works for leprosy patients, says that there is a high prevalence of illiteracy, unemployment and discrimination that people with leprosy have to face.

The report claims that of the 4,512 leprosy-affected persons living in various colonies built for them across the country who were surveyed, 1,259 were illiterate, only 1,088 children were school-going and 30 were in college. The occupation rates were also not encouraging with 712 people having taken to begging while 994 were unemployed. Twenty-one persons reported having faced discrimination because of living in a leprosy colony from people living in the nearby community and at least one claimed that people did not speak to the patients.

Restricted entry

"The survey has indicated that people with leprosy have problems using the public transport and have restricted entry into places of worship which adversely affects the overall quality of their life. Leprosy is a curable disease, but most affected people face discrimination and are not integrated with the development process. Their subsequent stunted development does not allow them to even benefit from the various schemes initiated for them. The survey has allowed us to look deeper and more accurately into their problems allowing us to target the areas where help is required," said social worker S. K. Dutta working with leprosy-affected people living in the Seemapuri leprosy colony here.

P. K. Gopal, a leading campaigner for leprosy-affected persons, said: "The survey is an indicator of the importance of the need for education and employment opportunity."

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